ForumsSupport ForumLocking Old Threads

9 1764
Cenere
offline
Cenere
13,658 posts
Jester

Okay, link me if there are other threads like this one, but I think googling the title will end up in meaningless threads without the topic like this.

Like many other I have been imagining how it would be to be a mod, and what I would do. One of the things would be this: Locking old threads. Half the dublicated threads will never be found, and not many people care to search back in the sections to find the threads to resurrect them. So instead of resurrecting, I think it would be - better, though filled with work, to lock the old threads, and make let people make a new one, starting fresh. Many of the once popular threads have 50+ pages, and no one can keep track of the discussion anymore, which leads to people just making the discussion a circle with the same arguments over and over again.
But, yes, I do realize the work the mods and carlie have to put into this, and though I think it would help the forum a little, and decrease the number of "this is a dublicate" where people cannot provide a link, because it is halfway impossible to track down, it is not something relating to the game-side of the site.

Okay, begin shooting me down.

  • 9 Replies
ShintetsuWA
offline
ShintetsuWA
3,176 posts
Nomad

Well, instead of ALL of them, it should be "from now on". You are correct; locking every single old thread in the boards will take a LOT of time to do, so what SHOULD happen is for a notice on the S&S forum to not make "(insert threads here)" threads. Those on the list would be automatically locked, because users didn't look at the important sticky that only requires 5 seconds at the most to read.

Some examples would be:

VS. Threads

AP for every rank threads

Obama threads (there was one before, but users still make those)

Duplicate walkthroughs (If there is already a walkthrough for a certain game, then DON'T MAKE THOSE! It's pointless!)

Threads that are in the "common suggestions" sticky


This is all I got, but I feel as though these pop up more than others, and even though I'm happy to help with these things, as soon as the problem is solved, another user just happens to make another topic EXACTLY LIKE THE OTHER the next day and asks for help, without taking time to read it. Another notice should be for taking the time to look through the forum to find what you're looking for FIRST before attempting to create another thread.

Cenere
offline
Cenere
13,658 posts
Jester

People do not really care for the stickies, but I guess there should be a FAQ here and in the Newcomers section, so the threads like "How do you make such and such" and all that is answered, as well as the official answers to the most common threads.
I have thought about a codex of honour too, because most spam topics end up looking like this:

This is spam.
It needs to be locked.
Spam.
I am reposting it to a mod.

And so on. If the thing is a dublicate, and the answer is in the FAQ, put a link to it, and all other should keep quite. But well.

Hmm, at least making an "the official thread for *topic*" for the common topics in the world event section, list of games with walkthrough, and so on.

Oh, and threads like the above one, with the "this is spam" should be deleted, instead of locked. The users are spamming, and it should not be acceptable that they get points for pointing out the obvious.
Zophia
offline
Zophia
9,435 posts
Scribe

Strop said:
Super old threads being resurrected is okay as long as the discussion resumes without a hitch. If it's spammy, I kill it.

Duplicated threads are okay as long as the originals are not to be found within the first pages, depending on how large and active the original thread was. Either this, or if the previous thread has been inactive for 2-3 days.


If the original thread can be found and would make sense to resurrect, I'd lock the new one with a link to the old one. If the original thread is lost, there's no point in saying the new one is a duplicate.
If you ever say something is a duplicate, provide a link to the original. Otherwise it's pointless to point it out.

Big problem is, many are too lazy to even look.

@Cenere:
There is an FAQ under construction in the newcomers section. I'm probably gonna be adding some small guides at some point as well.

Oh, and threads like the above one, with the "this is spam" should be deleted, instead of locked.
If that is all a post reads, I will delete it. It's the worst kind of spam, besides posting porn.
ShintetsuWA
offline
ShintetsuWA
3,176 posts
Nomad

I hardly see 2-3 days as being a dead thread. If it is totally lost in the forums, being in page 10, with the last reply in weeks, then that should be liable for duplicating. Resurrecting, sure, if you want to, but it would be hard to keep on track with the conversation. So the thread has been inactive for three days, that doesn't mean people can start duplicating a thread that's still on page 2.

Cenere
offline
Cenere
13,658 posts
Jester

If that is all a post reads, I will delete it. It's the worst kind of spam, besides posting porn


Problem is, you might be the only one doing it. I have seen topics with no post but the opening post be LOCKED, instead of deleted when they should have been. Some might have answered the topic, but said it was spam, which again leads to me thinking it should be deleted. I might be rather conservative about this, but I do not think poeple should earn points for posting anything in a thread that should be left to be locked.
If the topic should be moved, there should only be one posting this, and the poster should keep it on topic after that. All other posts stating this (without ontopic statements), should be deleted when a mod get to move the topic too.
Zophia
offline
Zophia
9,435 posts
Scribe

Bold and blue, common sense for forum posting:

Never post only saying that
1) You agree with a previous statement.
2) The thread needs to get locked.
3) You will report the thread or a user to a mod/admin.
4) That it is spam.
5) Any of the above, followed by 'the line of no-postliness'.
6) Something completely off-topic.
7) That the thread should be moved. Just tell a mod to do so.


When a user keeps posting on a thread in attempt to stop the spam, tell them on their profile that it is not working (to prevent them from continuing), rather than spamming further by telling them in the thread.

It can be okay to post some of those things, but not if it is all you post. You need to be on-topic.

Why do I think I'll be using my lock/delete tools a lot....

ulimitedpower
offline
ulimitedpower
1,739 posts
Nomad

People do not really care for the stickies


I agree. Just look how many people have looked at the Don't make any more link thread! Only viewed 235 times is pretty low to the amount of people who post on the forums.

If the original thread can be found and would make sense to resurrect, I'd lock the new one with a link to the old one. If the original thread is lost, there's no point in saying the new one is a duplicate.
If you ever say something is a duplicate, provide a link to the original. Otherwise it's pointless to point it out.

Big problem is, many are too lazy to even look.


Some threads are buried in the very heart of the forums. To find them would require about two days worth of looking(or have you ever fished through 18,000 threads?). Some threads should be resurrected if you can find them, but I noticed that sometimes threads that were known widely(like the AP ones), the originals are hard to find.

Don't understand:

7) That the thread should be moved. Just tell a mod to do so


Do you mean that mods can move threads to other forums? Sounds like it.

Many of the once popular threads have 50+ pages


Hell yes! People start to lose track around the 5 to 10 page, and when it gets to fifty, there's no way to Google the discussion, it's just too big. I think that at that point, a new thread can be made, but I think it's best if it's after the old thread is either locked or the discussion dies out.

If that is all a post reads, I will delete it. It's the worst kind of spam, besides posting porn.


Do Mods really take mindless goodie-goodies that badly? You guys really are serious. "This is Spam" is #2 in the list of worst spam kinds? It's worse than flaming, trolling and bullying? Better stay on your good list.

Okay, begin shooting me down.


Why are you so negative, Cenere? This is a great idea to bring up! Many questions are being answered, and our knowledge is furthered.
Cenere
offline
Cenere
13,658 posts
Jester

Mods can move threads, yes. Most of the time they do not, as the thread is very likely to be a dublicate and is better locked.

Spamming is not flaming, nor is flaming spamming. Flaming is much more serious. But off-topicness like that is really annoying and pointless.

Why are you so negative, Cenere? This is a great idea to bring up! Many questions are being answered, and our knowledge is furthered.

I guess I had in mind that all the suggestion-users would go "Bad idea", "there are threads like this" and so on... Hell, I tried to be as neutral as I could, but if I ever end up a mod (Let it never happen), I would start from the buttom and lock every useless thread, or even better, delete all the useless spam in the useless threads, as well as locking old, but once popular threads, make a new and sum up the points, and let that be the new thread for discussion.
Zophia
offline
Zophia
9,435 posts
Scribe

Do Mods really take mindless goodie-goodies that badly? You guys really are serious. "This is Spam" is #2 in the list of worst spam kinds? It's worse than flaming, trolling and bullying? Better stay on your good list.


It's just my opinion. Because 'this is spam' posts is the only thing that have ever annoyed me enough to post in all caps. Flamers and trolls, they're just annoying. 'This is spam' is outright exasperating and have no purpose.

Do you mean that mods can move threads to other forums? Sounds like it.


Quite so. I've moved some 5-10 threads already...
@Cenere:
They are often both moved and locked.
Showing 1-9 of 9